A foreigner? You'll pay more to visit France's treasures

Visiting France? Want to see the Palace of Versailles, or go inside The Louvre?

If so, you can soon expect to pay more than the locals.

French minister of culture Rachida Dati says non-EU citizens will pay more from January 1, 2026, to visit national treasures and museums across France.

Among the destinations where visitors will pay more are Chambord Castle in the Loire Valley, the Opéra Garnier and several other sites managed by the National Monuments Centre (CMN).

Respected newspaper Le Monde reported this week that the ticket price for visitors is expected to be set at €30 (approximately $53 Australian).

Currently entrance for all visitors at The Louvre museum costs €22 while a visit to The Palace of Versailles costs €21.

The proposed differential pricing will act as a tool to generate funds for critical renovation efforts.

A recent report by the French Court of Auditors suggested the Opéra Garnier and the Opéra Bastille could temporarily shut down by 2027 due to deteriorating infrastructure and aging technical systems.

The Louvre Museum hopes the new pricing model will raise €20 million annually, helping to cover part of the urgent needed repairs as the institution is now close to 9 million visitors a year.

Dual pricing in Thailand favours Thai nationals over visitors

Thailand's tourism sector continues to slump as foreign visitor numbers slide - but the government has opted to focus on boosting domestic travel, our Thai correspondent reports.

From January 1 to June 22, there was a 4.24% drop in arrivals compared to the same time last year, the Ministry of Tourism and Sports reported.

And, bizarrely, blame is still being cast on the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) has revised its forecast for the year, now predicting 37 million foreign tourists this year, falling short of the nearly 40 million record set in 2019.

But Thailand has just launched a campaign to spark domestic tourism: the Half-Half Thailand Travel initiative for Thais only.

Tourism and Sports Minister Sorawong Thienthong unveiled the program this week, saying it aims to revive the tourism industry during the low season and aid "post-pandemic recovery".

The scheme will subsidise travel expenses and accommodation for locals. 

The government will cover up to 50% of accommodation costs. In primary cities, they'll subsidise 40%, while in secondary cities, they’ll cover 50% during weekdays and 40% on weekends and holidays.

Participants can accommodation for up to five nights using digital coupons, which are also redeemable at participating restaurants, shops, and tourist locations with subsidies capped at 3,000 baht per night ($138).

The government says the initiative is set to energise domestic travel and distribute economic benefits across Thailand, focusing particularly on secondary cities, while providing a significant boost to local tourism businesses.

In another Thai-only scheme, from September 30, Bangkok commuters can enjoy a 20 baht (under $1) flat fare on all eight electric train lines, including those in surrounding areas. This initiative aims to make public transport more accessible and ease city congestion.

But passengers must register through the Tang Rat mobile app to benefit - and complete the registration process to verify their Thai nationality. 

Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit announced that the project is on track. "The 20 baht fare cap is a public benefit, and we are ensuring everything is ready for a smooth launch," he said.

There is no mechanism for visitors to benefit, AseanNow.com reports, in contradiction to the aim of boosting overseas numbers 

Mixed messages as Japan is about to become more expensive

Holidays in Japan are about to get a little more expensive for foreign tourists.

Japan is expected to introduce a dual pricing policy for entry at major tourist attractions from this northern hemisphere summer, news portal Travel Mole reports.

The two-tier system will charge higher prices for foreigners as the country aims to combat over-tourism issues. That said, it sound like a price gouge.

Authorities say higher prices for foreigners will help ease pressure on overcrowded sites and fund tourism infrastructure improvements.

No price differentials have been disclosed yet in detail, except for citing one example: Junguria Okinawa, a nature-themed park which is opening in July.

Foreign tourists will be charged 8,800 yen, while locals will pay only 6,930 yen.

Japan has set a long-term target of attracting 60 million foreign tourists each year by 2030. 

But imposing extra charges on them is unlikely to help increase numbers.